Giant Tiger Prawn
Penaeus monodon · pen-EE-us MON-oh-don
nocturnalsolitaryNot Evaluated
EdibleFriendly
Superpower
Grows from a speck of plankton to a hand-sized prawn in well under a year.
At a glance
- Size
- typically 20 cm, up to 33 cm
- Lifespan
- 1–2 years
- Depth
- 0–110 m
Habitat
Muddy coastal bottoms and estuaries; widely farmed.
Diet
Small invertebrates, detritus and algae.
Can I eat it?
Yes — edible · tastiness 9/10.
How to cook: Grilled, boiled or in sinigang — the prized 'sugpo'.
Fun facts
- Sugpo is one of the Philippines' most valuable farmed seafoods.
- It is one of the largest prawns in the world.
- Its shell shows the dark bands that give it the 'tiger' name.